Presidency rejects viral claims on Nigeria’s name change, Sharia Law

The Nigerian Presidency has strongly refuted a widespread fake news story asserting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to rename the country the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region.

The claims, which gained traction through viral messages and anonymous sources, were unequivocally dismissed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), on Thursday, as calculated attempt to incite disaffection and political instability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Anatomy of the Viral Hoax

The false narrative, which circulated widely on social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, alleged that the President was preparing to introduce a bill, internally codenamed “Project True Federation,” to the National Assembly by December 15.

This purported bill was said to be a radical constitutional amendment aimed at fundamentally altering the Nigeria’s political landscape, including the aforementioned name change and the removal of Sharia Law in the North.

The Presidency’s statement directly
addressed these specific claims, labeling them as entirely baseless and part of a “dubious plot by some desperate politicians”.

Constitutional Safeguards Against Arbitrary Changes

Onanuga emphasized the stringent constitutional process required for any amendments, highlighting that such significant changes are beyond the unilateral decision-making of the
President or the National Assembly.
He clarified that any constitutional alteration necessitates a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the National Assembly, followed by the concurrence of at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.

This detailed explanation served to underscore the impracticality and constitutional impossibility of the
viral claims, reinforcing the official position that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no such plans.

President’s Unwavering Focus on Economic Reforms

The Presidency reiterated President Tinubu’s steadfast commitment to his administration’s ongoing economic reforms.
The focus remains on delivering tangible benefits and improving the lives of Nigerians, rather than engaging with politically motivated falsehoods designed to distract and destabilize.

A Call for Public Vigilance

As the nation approaches the January 2027 general elections, the Presidency urged Nigerians to exercise caution and discernment regarding information consumed, particularly from unverified sources.

Onanuga characterized the propagators of such fake news as “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” imploring the general public to disregard their divisive narratives entirely.

Adding the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by misinformation in the political landscape and the importance of relying on credible sources for information.